In the name of the Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier. The one holy Triune God. Amen

We know that Jesus is God the Son, the second person of the Triune God. Scripture tells us that not only were the people in the local communities inquiring about his identity. Jesus was curious as to what the disciples thought of him as well. Listen in on the conversation:

Jesus asked his disciples inquisitively, “Who do you men say that I am?”

The disciples responded, “Some say you are John the Baptist returned from the dead, others say Elias, or another of the old prophets.”

And Jesus answered and said,” But who do you say that I am?”

Then Peter spoke, “Thou art the Logos, existing as God’s (His) rationality and then, by an act of God’s (His) will, being generated, in consideration of the various functions by which God is related to (His) creation, but only on the fact that Scripture speaks of a God (Father), and a Son, and a Holy Spirit, each member of the Trinity being coequal with every member, and each acting in separately with and interpenetrating every other member, with only economic subordination within God, but causing no division which would make the substance no longer simple.”

And Jesus answering, said, “What?” (copied and adapted from Synthesis, Yr A, May 22, 2005)

This would most likely be your reaction as well. Even today there remain questions about the Trinity as to who and what is the relationship between the key persons of the Holy Trinity—God, Son, and Holy Spirit which is very much apart of the foundation of our faith as Christians.

Obtaining a clue is personal and different for each person based on the experiences that may occur throughout your life. The answer does not reveal itself to you unless you know what your relationship is to each of these persons in the Trinity—the Triune God--the three aspects of God. However, there is no clear and simple answer. There was none then and there is none now. There is no understandable rationale for this Church doctrine that is not found in the Bible. The Holy Trinity is a Holy Mystery and yet it still offers a path to know the love of God throughout our lives by loving Jesus and others as our selves.

It took centuries for the early church fathers to figure out a way to express a statement of faith for the Church due to the vast array of ideas about Jesus who claimed to be from God. The origins of the theology of the early church leaders were based on Jewish and Theocentric (God centered) ideologies. However, following Pentecost, these leaders gained truthful and insightful understanding into the resurrection and they experienced the touch of the Holy Spirit. Subsequently, they shifted their thinking to a Christocentric (Christ centered) theology. (copied and adapted from James D. Cantelon, Simply God: Everyday Theology for Everyday People, Tennessee: Nelson Publishing, 1997, p.71)

The disciples after following Jesus changed their concept of God and began to see God as Abba. They saw and experienced Jesus as the healer--God as the healer; Jesus as love; -- God as love; Jesus as the victor over death; and --God as the victor over death. These disciples shared three years of Jesus’ life witnessing and experiencing first hand the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus constantly talked with them about being one with Abba saying that ‘when you see me you are seeing God.’ Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of God who had a deep, loving, and obedient relationship with God the creator. Jesus taught that we are called to reveal the love of God to each other and to minister to those in need. We do this for our fellow parishioners in our various ministries and for others in the community. We know through the Christmas story the circumstances of the birth of Jesus and his incarnation. The disciples were promised by Jesus, as we are promised today, that all believers will have the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.

In the group of nearly 300 believers yesterday at the confirmation services for the diocese at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the presence of the Triune God filled the hearts of Russell, Rachel L., Robert, Rachel D., Jessie, Courtney and many of the confirmands as they were experiencing the laying on of hands by the Bishop. There is something very deep and personal that ignites the experience of Paul’s prayer, “ the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit,” to be within our midst bonding us in unity as a faith community of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Shortly in our service, we will welcome through baptism, a new member of the family of God, little Charlie Biggs. Baptism is like a second birth for the sons and daughters of God. As we grow into Christian maturity, we have the opportunity to experience the unconditional love of God who loves us like that of a mother and father, feeds us at the Eucharist, and nurtures us throughout our lives in the name of the Creator, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Today is Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday following Pentecost, and commences the beginning of Ordinary time. We have joyfully celebrated the mystery of salvation made possible by God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. What does all this mean for us today? It means that we must remember that the doctrine of the Holy trinity can all be traced back to the conception, baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.

We are called to remember and praise the glorious unity of the divine action of the Triune God in the world and in our lives daily. We are called to give praise to God who created us. We are called to represent the love of God in the church community. Additionally we are called to seek the help of the Comforter the Holy Spirit that dwells within us by the grace of God. We are called to live in unity and love in the faith community with God who created us, God the Son who redeemed us and God the Holy Spirit who sanctified us—The Triune God is our model for the baptized community in the name of God, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.